Grieving family warns of carbon monoxide poisoning risk from gas appliances

VICTORIANS have been urged to ensure their gas appliances are properly maintained by a devastated family whose grandmother died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a leaky heater.

THE devastated family of a Greensborough grandmother who died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a heater has called on others to ensure their gas appliances are well maintained.

A Coroner’s report this week confirmed Sonia Sofianopolous died of carbon monoxide toxicity in July last year.

Ms Sofianopolous’ daughter Eleni Kontogiorgis told the Herald Sun she could not believe how her mother had died and was surprised by the lack of public information about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

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“My children would often have sleepovers at her house so this was even more shocking to think that they could have been affected by this as well,” she said.

“We as a family want to raise awareness about this because, to be honest, it’s something that none of us had ever heard of so it was certainly not something that crossed our minds”.

An inquest hearing into Ms Sofianopolous’ death later this month will consider how the carbon monoxide she inhaled came to be released through the gas heater in her Greensborough public housing unit.

Greensborough grandmother Sonia Sofianopolous pictured with her grandchildren.

A directions hearing on Monday heard a post mortem had found high levels of carboxyhaemoglobin — when carbon monoxide mixes with red blood cells — in Ms Sofianopolous’ body, with saturation levels at 64 per cent. Cigarette smokers normally register saturation levels of about two per cent.

Ms Kontogiorgis said she was shocked to learn that the placement of the gas appliances — in areas with little ventilation — also contributed to her mum’s death and urged the public to ensure they always hired gas plumbers who were trained in line with the appropriate Energy Safety Victoria guidelines.

“Mum led a very active life and played an extremely important role in our day-to-day life. Ms Kontogiorgis said.

“She was part of our lives in so many ways and was at our house most days, her loss is something we still can’t put into words.”

Senior Slater and Gordon Public Liability Lawyer Lily Boskovski said on the morning of the death, Ms Sofianopolous was believed to have turned on the gas heater as well as the gas stove in order to cook some soup, however she was not found until the next night.

Ms Boskovski said a gas plumber later found a gas leak in the heater in Ms Sofianopolous’ unit, which is believed to have contributed to the carbon monoxide poisoning.

“No family should have to experience what Sonia’s family has gone through,” she said. “It is up to homeowners and, in this case, the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure their properties are safe.”

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless and highly poisonous gas produced by the incomplete combustion of gas fuel that can be emitted when gas appliances are not installed or maintained properly.

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